The PlayStation 5 is not going to be quiet. After the market launch at the end of 2020, there was an enormous shortage, numerous interested people had to wait for months for their device. This shortage was only recently declared to be over. But now the PS5 is already back in the headlines: Reports of leaking liquid metal are piling up.
Liquid metal is used for cooling
In the PlayStation 5, Sony is using liquid metal for the first time to cool the System on a Chip (SoC). Compared to classic thermal paste, liquid metal offers the advantage of being able to dissipate heat much faster and more efficiently. The SoC sits firmly on a base and the liquid metal is fixed – Sony has even applied for a patent for the fixation.
However, there are now more and more reports about leaking liquid metal. What most reports have in common is that the liquid metal leaked from devices that were placed upright. In this position, which the PlayStation 5 is actually designed for as well as horizontal placement, the SoC is vertical and the liquid metal can drain downwards if the fixation doesn’t work.
It is not yet clear why the leak happened. It is suspected that the affected devices could have been damaged during transport. If pre-damaged devices are then also set upright, there is a possibility of the liquid metal leaking.
Other conspicuous features
The problem should be noticed relatively quickly – even if the leaking liquid metal is not noticed directly. Due to the lack of heat dissipation, the cooling fan, for example, has to work much harder, which is noticeable acoustically. Furthermore, the affected devices overheat much faster, which leads to the PlayStation shutting down. However, the problems can also be more severe. For example, there are reports of some cases where the liquid metal has flowed onto other components of the PlayStation and caused short circuits.
No statement from Sony
Whether the reports are isolated cases or the tip of a much larger iceberg is hard to assess with certainty based on the data so far. Sony itself, meanwhile, has not yet commented on the problem. As a precautionary measure, it is advisable to place the PlayStation 5 exclusively in a lying position for the time being.
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